Objective

The objectives of this experiment were to learn the identity of unknown metals by finding
their densities, to discover whether density is an intensive or extensive property, to learn whether
density changes when a solid changes shape, and to put into practice the concepts of accuracy
and precision in relation to lab measurements and calculations.
Materials used
Density set with 1 aluminum cube, 1 steel cube, and 1 unknown slab of metal
Density set with 3 metal cylinders with unknown composition
Metal pellets
Single pan electronic balance capable of measuring to the nearest 10 mg.
Vernier calipers
Graduated cylinders
Procedure
After recording physical observations of the three metal cylinders, such as color, we used
the calipers to measure the length and diameter of each cylinder. We inserted these measurements
into the following equation: height x (radius2)tocalculatethevolumeofthecylinders.Wethen
usedthesinglepanelectronicbalancetoascertainthemass.Oncewehadthesetwo
measurements,weputthemintotheequationD=M/V,whereD=density,M=mass,andV=
volume.Onceweobtainedthedensityforeachcylinder,weobtainedthemassforeachgroupof
pelletsbyusingtheelectronicbalance.Oncewehadthatnumber,weneededthevolumeofeach
group.Wefoundthisbyfillingagraduatedcylinderwithtwentymillilitersofwaterandadding

thepellets.Wethenrecordedthenewheightofthewater,andsubtractedtheoriginaltwentymLs
fromthat.Oncewehadthemassandthevolume,weusedtheequationD=M/Vtofindthe
density.Sincetheidentityofeachgroupofpelletswasclearlymarkedonthecontainer,wehad
onlytoidentifythecylindersbycomparingthedensitiesofthecylinderstothoseofthepellets.
Oncewehadidentifiedthecylinders,wetookthethesteelcube,thealuminumcube,and
theunidentifiedslabofmetal,andusedtheelectronicbalancetodeterminethemassofeachone.
Wethenusedthecaliperstomeasurethelength,width,andheightofeachpiece.Wethenused
theequationD=M/Vtofindthedensity.Wethencomparedthedensitiestoidentifytheunknown
slab.
Dataandobservations
Dataformetalcylinders
subject

observations

Mass

Volume

Density

Element

heavy for its

size, dark gray

29.08g

2.53 mL

11.49 g/mL

Lead

shiny, copper
colored

29.02g

3.13 mL

9.27 g/mL

Copper

Shiny, bright,
silver. Light.

29.05g

10.4 mL

2.79 g/mL

Aluminum

Dataformetalpellets
element

mass

volume

Density

Lead

72.59 g

4.5 mL

16.1 g/mL

Copper

96.54 g

10.5 mL

8.7 g/mL

Aluminum

37.47 g

14 mL

2.7 g/mL

Dataformetalcubesandslab
Subject

Mass

Volume

Density

aluminum cube

5.54 g

1.95 mL

2.84 g/mL

Steel cube

15.88 g

1.95 mL

8.14 g/mL

Unknown slab

37.95 g

14 mL

2.7 g/mL

Calculations
TofindthevolumeofthemetalcylindersweusedtheequationV=heightx x radius2.
For example, the height of the copper cylinder was 2.55 cm, and the radius was 0.625 cm.
Therefore the equation was as follows:
2.55 cm x (0.6252)= 3.13 cm3
To find the density of each object we used the equation D=M/V in which D equals
density, M equals mass, and V equals volume. So, if the mass of the steel cube is 15.88 g, and the
volume is 1.95 mL, the equation is as follows
15.88g/1.95mL=8.14 g/mL
Discussion
1) In the density set that has two cubes and a metal slab, what is the metal slab made
from? Upon what information did you base your choice?

Answer: In the density set, the metal slab is made of aluminum. I arrived at this
conclusion by comparing the densities of the cubes to the density of the slab. The
density of the slab was closest to the density of the aluminum cube.
2) Identify the three metals making up the cylinders in the second density set. Did you
use information other than the densities to make your choices?
Answer: The three metals making up the cylinders in the second density were lead,
copper, and aluminum. We identified the cylinders by comparing the densities to the
densities of the marked metal pellets.
3) Is density an intensive or an extensive property? Is density a physical property or a
chemical property? How does your data support your answers to these questions?
Answer: Density is an intensive property, as evidenced by the fact that no matter what
form the metal was in, the density remained roughly the same, with allowance for
human error and inability to precisely measure the volume.
4) Does the density vary with the form of the substance? Does the density depend on
whether the metal is solid object, pellets, or some other form?
Answer: The density does not vary with the form of the substance, as the densities were
more or less the same.
5) Quantify the accuracy and precision of the methods you used to calculate the density
of the materials.
Answer: Our methods for determining mass were both precise and accurate with the
electronic balance. Our methods for determining volume of the metal cubes and
cylinders were also both precise and accurate. However, determining the volume of

the pellets was difficult, as the graduated cylinders were not marked beyond
milliliters.
Conclusion
We determined the identities of the three unknown metals through the use of proper lab
practices and use of the correct equations. We also determined that density is an intensive
property that remains unchanged whatever form the element may take.